Method and machine for determining viscosity.



A. E.I FLOWER-S. METHOD AND MACHINE FOB DETERMINING VISCOSITY.

. Pmnted Nov. 20, 19N.

enanas .wenn union ALAN E. FIQWERS, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO TINIUS OISEN TESTING MACHINE COMPANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD Ann MACHINE Foa nnrnmumrne vrsoosrrr.

Application ledl August 29, 1913.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALAN E. FLOWERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Schenectady, Schenectady county,

New York, have invented Improved Meth-- lated, inexpensive and relatively accuratev device for measuring the viscosity of liquids,

Ait being especially desired that the apparatus shall be conveniently adjustable to suit it for use in making tests of liquids whose viscosity varies between wide limits.

These objects .and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a machine constructed accordingto my invention, in which my novel method of determining or comparing viscosities may be carried out;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan of the testing tube.

In the above drawings 1 represents a suitable base structure preferably provided with leveling screws 2- and supporting a pair of substantially vertical standards 3 in the form `of two bars of circular section. The upper ends of these bars are connected by a plate 5 held in any desired position above the base 1 by clamping or set screws 6, land on said bars is slidably mounted a cross head 4 provided with a vertically extending threaded passage mid-way between said standards or bars 3, for the reception of a screw 7 whose head 8 is rotatably mounted in the plate 5. By means of this screw, the cross head 4 may be adjusted to vary its distance above the base 1, and in addition, by slacking the set screws 6, the plate 5 and with it the cross head 4 may be adjusted up or down on the standards 3.

Projecting horizontally from the cross head 4 is a spindle 9 on which is rotatably mounted an oscillatory arm 10 hereafter re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. 26, ll'.

serial No. 787,303.

ferred to as the slant limb, removably heldV in place by a screw 11 entering or forming part of said spindle. This slant limb is provided with bearings 12 at points equally distant from its central bearing for the reception of a longitudinally extending glass or other transparent tube 13 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 15' for heating or cooling iiuid.

Mounted concentrically within this tube 13 is a testing tube 16 likewise of glass or other transparent material and-preferably of the construction shown in Fig. 3. As here illustrated, this tube has an elongated bore or passage 17 which atl its end portions is preferably, though not necessarily, enlarged as indicated-at 18, it being noted that the enlarged portions are of relatively short length andare connected to the smaller diamter central bore by frusto conical sections 19. At suitable points adjacent the ends of the smaller bore portion 17 or at any other desired points I preferably provide transit marks 20 and 21.

The tube 16 preferably extends through and beyond the heads 22 whereby it is supported within the tube 13 and anyl desired form of stoppers may be provided for closing its ends, such for example, as the caps 23 which are shown as designed to screw upon suitably threaded projections from the bearings 12 and vwhich are also threaded to receive the flanged stopper heads 24 attached inv any suitable manner to Stoppers 25 fitting the enlarged portions 18respectively of thel said tube 16. If desired, a thermometer 26 may be. mounted within the tube 13 so as to give an indication of the temperature of any liquid or gas delivered around the tube 16, and within this latter is placed a sphere or other suitably formed solid body 28 whose dimensions are such that it is free to roll with more or less clearance through parts, the liquid whose viscosity is to be tested is introduced into the tube 15, with the ball or other movable member 28, and

after the stopper 25 has been replaced, said liquid is brought to and is maintained at any desired temperature, as indicated bythe thermometer 26, by iiuid from a. suitable source circulated through the tube 13"v by pipes attached to the inletlfl and-outlet. 15.

By suitable manipulation of the screw -head' 8, the cross head 11 is brought, to suchfa;

height above the base 1, or above the top of the stop bar that the slant limb'10 Willlie- Fig. 1 to a similar but oppositely inclined 1 position with its second edge 29 in engagement with the top surface of the stop 27, and by any suitable means, note is made of the time required for the ball 28 or other movable body such as a disk to roll through the liquid in the tube 16 between the tWo marks 2O and 21, the viscosity of said liquid being directly proportional to this time, or inversely proportional to the velocity of movement of said ball. So long as the velocity of the ball 28 is not too high, this relation between the velocity of the ball and viscosity of the liquid will hold good.

When it is desired to remove or replace the liquid to be tested, this may be quickly accomplished by removing one of the stoppers 25 with its cap 24, it being obvious that with the construction employed, I may quickly and conveniently clean the inside of the testing tube Whenever desired. If it is desired, check readings may be obtained by reversingl the direction in which the ball rolls through the tube 16, thisbeing accomplis-hed by rotating the slant limb 1() on its spindle in the direction opposite to that'just indicated, the velocity of movement of the ball being noted as before.

By any suitable means, measurements un der pressures other than that of the atmosphere may be made by connecting the ends of the tube 16 to a'ny suitable source of pressure. If it be desired to vary the angle at which the tube 16 is supported While the ball 28 is rolling through the body of liquid within the same, I may raise or lower the cross head 4 upon the standards 3 by suitable manipula'tiongof the screw head 8.

By reason of the provision of the inclosing tube 13 the temperature of the liquid in the tube` 16 may be maintained constant at any desired point, determined as before noted, by any desired means such as the pas.-

sage of hot or cold fluid around the tube 16- through said -inclos'ing tube. The amount of clearance between the ball 28 and the Walls of the bore 17 'maybe varied Within relatively wide limits although I prefer that the diameter of the ball shall be from one-half to three-quarters 'of that of the bore of the tube.

It is to be understood that I may employ balls of different densities in order to test liquids of diii'erent viscosities, and may like- Wise have the transit points 2() and 21 at different distances apart as maybe found most convenient.

It is to be particularlynoted that by theuse of my apparatus above described, it is possible to obtain results of relatively high accuracy. Moreoverv it is possible to use but a relatively 'small quantity of any given liquid in order to determine vits viscosity, and under the conditions of the test, the liquid is protected from evaporation as Well as from the effects of the temperature of the surrounding air. The observations necessary for a test may be made in a relatively short time and the apparatus may be easilyl and quickly adjusted to suit it for tests With the slant limb at various angles, inorder to suit it for use with liquids of Widely differing viscosities.

It is to be understood that While I have shown a definite combination of parts for carrying out my invention, I do not limit myself to this particular construction, but may use other forms of apparatus embodying the principles of the above described invention.

While in the above description I have shownvthe apparatus as employing but a single testing tube 16, it is to be understood that tvvo or more such tubes may be used when it is desired to make direct compari-` sons of the viscosities of two different liquids.

1. The step in the method of ascertaining the viscosity of a liquid which consists in determining the velocity at which a ball moves through a column of said liquid of predetermined length and Whose diameter ,is one-quarter to one-half greater than the diameter of said ball.

2. The method of determining the vviscosity of a liquid which consists in causing a soli d body to roll through a column of said liquid; and observing the time required for said body to pass through a predetermined length of said column.

3. A viscosity meter consisting of a supporting structure; means,'including a tube of transparent material, mounted on said structure and free to tilt in a vertical plane; with a body of solid material of a cross section materially smaller than that of the tube bore and free to move through the same When the tube occupies an inclined position.

4. The combination of a supporting structure having a horizontal pivot; a slant limb mounted on said pivot; means-for limiting the movement of'said limb; a transparent tube carried by the slant limb; and a body of solid material free to roll through the tube, when it is inclined.

i parent tube, mounted on said structure so as to be free to tilt in diiierent directions; with a ball free to roll through said tube.

6. A viscosity meter consisting of a supporting structure having ya standard; a cross head vertically adjustable on said standard and provided with a horizontal pivot; a slant limb mounted on' said pivot; a transparent tube carried by said slant limb; and a' member in the tube free to move through the same when it is inclined.

7. A viscosity meter consisting of a supporting structure having a standard; a cross head vertically adjustable on said standard and provided With a horizontal pivot; a slant limb mounted on said pivot; a transparent tube'carried by said slant limb; a member in the tube free to move through the same when it is inclined; with means for preventing movement of the slant limb beyond either of two positions in which. it is oppositely and equally inclined to the vertical.

ture having a horizontal pivot; a slant limb mounted on said pivot and having stopengaging portions on opposite sides of and at equal distances from said pivot; a stop device on the supporting structure placed to engage said portions of the slant limb to prevent movement of the same beyond two opposi-tely and equally inclined positions; a transparent tube carried by the slant limb; and a member free to move through the tube when it is inclined.

9. A viscosity meter consisting of a sup-y porting structure having a supporting standard; an adjusting screw carried thereby; a cross head slida-ble on the standard and engaged by said adj'ustingfsorew; a horizontal pivot on the cross head; a slantlimb mounted on the pivot; means for reventing movement ofv said slant limb eyond predetermined positions; a transparent tube carried by the' slant limb for the reception of liquid to be tested; and a ball in said tube.

10. The combination of a transparent tube for liquid to be tested; a body of solid matestandard; a transparent tube disposed on said beam, an inner transparent tube within Vsaid lirst named tube; and an inlet and outlet for said first named tube, as described.

12. A structure for testing the viscosity of liquids comprising a supporting stand.-

ard; a transparent tube pivotally mounted on said supporting standard and arranged to receive and discharge a liquid, said tube being provided with a plurality of indicating marks along its length;-and `a sphere disposed in rolling relation within said tube and adapted to move through the liquid and be visible along the line of said indicating marks, asdescribed.

13. A structure for testing the viscosity of liquids comprising inner and outer transparent tubes; the space between the two being closed at the ends; an inlet and an outlet for said outer tube; a sphere disposed in said inner tube; and means for pivotally mounting said tube, as described.

14. A structure for testing the viscosity of liquids comprising a transparent tube;

means for adjusting said tube to definite 8. The combination of a supporting strucangles of inclination; and a sphere of greater specific gravity than the liquid disposed in rolling relation within `said tube and being visible therethrough, as described.

15. A structure for testing the viscosity of liquidscomprising a transparent tube arranged to be set in diierent positions and being provided with inlets and outlets having removable closures; and a sphere of greater specific gravity than the liquid disposed in rolling relation within said tube, as described. Y

16. A structure for testing the viscosity of liquids comprising a supporting standard; a transparent tube pivotally mounted on said supporting standard, such tube being open at each end, said tubebeing arranged'to receive a liquid; means for closing the open ends of said tube; and a sphere disposed in rolling relation within said tube and adapted to move through the liquid, as described.

17. A structure for testing the viscosity of -liquids comprising a transparent tube arranged to be set at various angles tothe horizon, such tube being provided with a transparent jacket; and a sphere disposed in rolling relation Within said tube, as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing` witnesses.

' ALAN 9E. rrown'ns. 

